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Friday evening, the Sheriff’s Office, the Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies from North Carolina joined with law enforcement agencies from Tennessee in a “Hands Across the Border” Project. Officers from North Carolina and Tennessee held a check point
at the North Carolina/Tennessee border just west of Elk Park. During Hands Across the Border, Officers encountered 47 year old Lester Eugene Harmon of Elk River Rd., and discovered that Harmon had an outstanding warrant from Mitchell County for Larceny. Harmon was arrested on the outstanding warrant. Following up on that arrest, Officers went to Harmon’s residence attempting to find another wanted person and found evidence in the front yard consistent with a meth lab. A search warrant was issued leading Investigators to locate two labs at the residence. Harmon was then charged with Possession of Precursor Chemicals, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession with intent to distribute. Harmon is in the Avery County Jail under a $36,000.00 bond.